Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO

Chapter 408

Rachel's POV

| snatched the phone from Mom's hand, my fingers trembling slightly as news alerts flooded the screen. Every

major outlet was running with the sheadline: violence at Parker Group's underground garage.

Social media was blowing up with theories. Sclaimed the dead were kidnappers, others insisted it must be a

Parker executive. Police at the scene were tight-lipped, giving reporters the standard “ongoing investigation”

line.

What caught my eye were the comments flooding in below the live videos:

“If it wasn’t someone important, why would police and Parker Group hide the identity?”

“Twenty minutes without a statement from Parker PR? Has to be Blake.”

“Parker Group's communications team responds to everything within minutes. The silence speaks volumes.”

“Sources confirm Blake Parker at Mayo Clinic, fighting for his life!”

My stomach twisted as | stared at the screen. When | rushed downstairs to confront her, all | could think about

was Blake. My future husband. The man I'd secretly wanted for years. Of course | was worried about him.

But after hearing Mom casually admit she’d planned to kill him, my perspective shifted tically.

Part of- a cold, calculating part | barely recognized - actually hoped Blake was dead.

Not because I'd stopped caring for him. Not because | truly wanted him gone.

But because | had nowhere to run if Blake survived.

He'd wake up. He'd investigate. He'd discover I'd arranged Emma’s kidnapping, that Mom had hired people to

kill him. And Blake Parker wasn’t known for

mercy.

This was the man who'd shipped his own sister and cousin overseas to brutal boarding schools just for bullying

Audrey. What would he do toand my family when he discovered we'd nearly killed him?

But if he died...

Marriage license already filed. Half his fortune would be mine by law. I'd control Parker Group through a grief-

stricken Rebecca and Thalia. The thought made my heart race.

“Mom, | finally said, breaking the silence. “When | called Blake earlier, Evelyn answered. Said he was

unconscious, being rushed to the hospital.”

| met her eyes. “But | couldn't actually see him. | don’t know if he’s really injured and heading to the hospital, or

if he’s already gone and they're just covering it up.”

‘Did your people contact you after it happened? Tell you who actually died?”

Mom snapped her compact mirror shut with a sharp click. “I specifically told them not to reach out afterward. If

Blake died, police would immediately check phone records.”

She reached for her phone. “Should I call them now to find out?”

“No,” | said quickly. “You were right about the records. Contacting them now would just create evidence linking

you to whatever happened.”

| scrolled through my contacts and found my connection at Mayo Clinic. Taking a deep breath, | pressed call.

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Chapter 408

“Miss Hayes?’

‘Has Blake Parker been admitted there?”

“Mr. Parker? Why would he be here? Is he ill?”

| pressed, “Wasn't an ambulance just brought in from Parker Tower?”

‘One moment.” | heard typing. “Yes, Miss Hayes, an ambulance arrived about three minutes ago from Parker

headquarters.”

| held my breath.

“But there was only a security guard with an arm injury and a woman accompanying him. No Blake Parker.

*The woman who is she?’ | asked.

“I believe the guard called her Mrs. Knox.”

“Could you senda photo?”

The image showed a black-suited bodyguard with a bandaged arm sitting on an exam table. Beside him stood a

woman in a beige dress checking his wound. Her face was tear-stained, eyes red-rimmed.

But what caught my attention was Blake’s custom diamond-encrusted phone peeking from her pocket.

Everything clicked into place, and relief flooded through me.

If Blake were fine, his phone wouldn't be in her possession.

If Blake and Emma were alive, Evelyn would be with them, not tending to srandom bodyguard.

Blake and the child must be dead, their bodies secured by police, leaving Evelyn with nothing but Blake's phone.

| almost laughed out loud. This was perfect. Absolutely perfect.

If Blake was truly gone, | wouldn't just escape his vengeance - I'd inherit his vast fortune. Blake had built Parker

Group into something extraordinary after his father’s death. His personal wealth dwarfed even William Parker's

considerable estate.

*Thank you, Doctor,’ | said smoothly, ending the call.

| settled next to Mom, a small smile playing at my lips. “Mother, can | borrow sof your makeup? | need to

look my best for the cameras today.”

Audrey's POV

“You really don’t need to babysit me,” Jett muttered as | adjusted the bandage on his arm. ‘Your kid's been

through hell today. You should be with her.”

| gave him a tired smile. ‘Emma’s fine. What matters now is Blake's safety.”

| secured the bandage, keeping my voice low. “Besides, I'm no doctor. | can’t help with his treatment. Might as

well stay here with you and put on a little show for certain greedy individuals.”

Jett raised an eyebrow, understanding dawning on his face. He gave a slight nod.

The plan had ctogether right after Rachel's call. The ambulance had automatically headed for Mayo Clinic,

where Rachel's family had significant influence. Her uncle owned a substantial stake in the facility.

Taking Blake and Emma there would be like walking them straight into a trap.

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Chapter 408

So I'd made a split-second decision. | ordered the ambulance to pull over several blocks from the hospital. Adrian

and Astrid quickly arranged for Blake to be transferred to another vehicle - one that would take him to Felix

Thompson's private residence.

Not ideal, but it was the best option we had. Blake's condition was critical, but stable enough for the short

transport, according to the paramedics.

According to Jett, when the kidnappers recognized Blake, they'd offered him a deal: himself in exchange for

Emma's safety. He hadn't even hesitated.

And then, when they decided to kill them both anyway, Blake had used his body to shield Emma from their

attack, taking multiple stab wounds that had been meant for her.

| never would have believed Blake capable of such selflessness. The arrogant, cold-hearted CEO I'd known during

our marriage wouldn't have risked a papercut for someone else.

Yet here we were.

By now, Blake should be at Felix’s place with Harrison's medical team working on him. Emma was safe with

Astrid. All we needed to do was maintain this charade - just enough to keep Rachel and her mother believing

their plan had succeeded.

Just enough tto keep Blake safe until he recovered.

Blake's phone weighed heavy in my pocket. Jett had handed it toin the ambulance, saying Blake had

unlocked it and given specific instructions forto have it if anything happened.

| closed my eyes, and immediately Blake's face appeared in my mind - lying on that stretcher, his skin ghostly

pale, completely drained of color.

My heart clenched painfully in my chest. | truly hadn't expected this... hadn't expected Blake would put himself

in harm's way to protect Emma, would allow himself to be injured so severely.

DivorceBefore veall Farca ime, wi